Filipe Toledo Wins Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal

Friday, October 30, 2015: Supertubos, Peniche/Cascais, Portugal - Filipe Toledo (BRA), 20, has won the Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal over tour rookie Italo Ferreira (BRA), 20, in an amazing all-Brazilian final contested in solid six foot surf at the iconic Supertubos in Peniche.

Stop No. 10 on the 2015 Samsung Galaxy World Surf League (WSL) Men’s Championship Tour (CT), the Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal delivered substantial upsets in the WSL Title race and high-drama scenarios with local wildcards and new generation athletes reaching finals day in front of capacity crowds.

Toledo started his final with a bang, claiming the event’s second perfect 10 point ride for a combination of two aerial manoeuvres and transitional floaters to launch his assault towards a third event title this season. In a combination situation halfway through the Final, Ferreira took his air game to the next level and launched into a huge aerial for a near-perfect 9.93 that put him right back into the battle for first place.

Toledo kept building momentum and confidence and improved on his back-up score with another two-airs combination to increase his lead over Ferreira, ultimately clinching the Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal title. With a third victory this season, Toledo climbs up to second on the Jeep Leaderboard, only 200 points behind current WSL No.1 Mick Fanning (AUS).

“I have no words, I’m just so stoked, I had a crazy two-weeks here, I hurt my back right when I got here after France. France was such a bummer for me, but it made me think about everything and put my mind in the right place and now the results are showing. The Final to me is the best heat, I don’t have anything to lose and I just go for it.” – Filipe Toledo

Following the completion of the Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal, the World Title Race heads to Pipeline, Hawaii for the final stop in the 2015 Samsung Galaxy World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), the Billabong Pipe Masters from December 8-20. Heading into Pipe, six athletes remain in a mathematical position to clinch the coveted WSL Title – Mick Fanning, Filipe Toledo, Adriano de Souza, Gabriel Medina, Owen Wright, and Julian Wilson are all in contention.

Photo: WSL / Kirstin